There was one word that came to mind when I glanced around the crowded tent at the start of Thursday’s Marathon Read event: legacy. Professors, students, alumni, coaches, and literary fanatics alike came together on the library lawn to celebrate Catch-22, a great novel, which, incidentally, was written by Joseph Heller, a former Penn State instructor.
Sue Paterno herself came to participate in the event, kicking off the marathon as the first reader. She walked within one foot of me as she approached the podium. Thankfully, I restrained the urge to squeal like a 12-year old at a Justin Bieber concert at this unexpected celebrity encounter.
Initially, I had shown up at the reading marathon on a whim; the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Studies office told me that it was happening, so I felt somewhat obligated to attend. I was genuinely surprised when I discovered what a unique event it actually was. A diverse group of readers sharing their love for great literature and academia; it was a cool thing to witness.
I spent a good ten minutes shuffling my feet by the sign-up table before I wrote my name down to read at 12:15 a.m. I was hesitant because, sadly, I have never actually read Catch-22. However, I did have the decency to return to my dorm and look up the synopsis on SparkNotes before I returned to read. Somehow, I knew that I would forever regret it if I missed the chance to take part in this special occasion.
In the several hours I spent in “Sparksville,” as Sue Paterno had referred to the location, I heard from volleyball and basketball coaches, graduate students, and random individuals who were not even related to the College of the Liberal Arts. This eclectic mix of people brought me to realize that the actions and accomplishments of the College of the Liberal Arts are widely acknowledged, and it excites me to know that I am becoming a part of that diverse, well-known network.
At 12:15 the following morning, the tent was far less crowded, but that feeling I had earlier sensed, that concept of legacy, remained. In the soft glow of the lights, my feet rooted to the same spot that Sue Paterno had stood just hours before, I felt connected to the Penn State community in a new way.
The things that I could potentially aspire to were laid out before me; I could go on to be a successful Penn State graduate, a well-respected professor, or perhaps the writer of a great novel that will be read at a 24-hour marathon years from now.
After experiencing the Catch-22 Reading Marathon, I can safely say that I have a greater understanding and appreciation for the many opportunities Penn State has to offer, helping me to become a part of the legacy so that I truly understand what it means to say WE ARE…PENN STATE.